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Taking care of one’s physical, spiritual and emotional health is part of being a good pastor. Yet too many pastors give self-care a low priority when it comes to balancing personal needs with pastoral responsibilities.

That was the message Dr. Tammy DeCoteau, a licensed psychologist and founder of DeCoteau Trauma-Informed Care and Practice of Bismarck, presented to around 30 area pastors at a community gathering March 14.

The workshop, titled “Clergy Self-Care: Balancing Zeal and Health,” was hosted by Trinity Health’s Pastoral Care Team: Rev. Fr. Sylvester Onyeachonam, Rev. Brian Krebs, Rev. Mike Parker, Rev. Luther Hanson, Rev. Christopher Lenning, Chaplain Nathan Haugen and Deacon Anna Dykeman.

Taking time for self-care is necessary to maintain an effective ministry, and pastors who neglect their own needs are at a higher risk for exhaustion and burnout, according to DeCoteau. Ultimately, they’ll end up failing themselves and their congregations.

“The call to ministry involves service to others. It means having to balance a congregation’s needs with the needs of one’s own family, being called upon to respond in many types of emergencies and being expected to overperform in multiple roles within a congregation. These are obligations that can lead to stress-related illness,” DeCoteau said.

While taking time out for self-care can be construed as selfish or lazy, it’s essential for anyone who wishes to perform successfully in a professional role.

“Self-care is never selfish, it’s a tool,” she explained. “It’s simply doing what is necessary to keep on being good at your job, whether that’s exercise, negotiating a more flexible work schedule or just getting together with friends to relax and have fun.”

DeCoteau has her own list of to-dos to maintain one’s resilience. They include adequate sleep, maintaining a connection with a community of supporters, exercising and eating a balanced diet. “Self-care is what you do every single day to take care of yourself,” she said.